Political Turmoil In Paradise: The Unfolding Of The Maldivian Crisis

The Supreme Court of the Maldives ordered the government to release all political prisoners and called on the legislature to hold its first meeting in 2018. This resulted in tensions between President Abdulla Yameen and the judiciary. In an attempt to forcefully re-establish its authority, the government imposed a State of Emergency and curtailed the basic rights of its citizens. As a result of the government’s crackdown, the Supreme Court annulled its earlier order on 6 February 2018. This paper traces the outbreak of the political turmoil in the Maldives and looks at the response of the international community to the crisis.

- Amit Ranjan

On 1 February 2018, the Supreme Court of the Maldives ordered the government to release nine opposition leaders, including former president, Mohamed Nasheed, who has been living in exile in Britain since 2016. In its judgment, the Supreme Court stated that, “Upon deliberation of matters petitioned at the Supreme Court under supervisory jurisdiction claiming: criminal proceedings were conducted based on political motivations; and in violation of the Constitution and the international human rights covenants acceded to by the Maldives; and the rulings were given subject to undue influence over judiciary and the prosecutor; and contrary to due process; the court finds these cases require retrials and judgments pursuant to the law”. Pending the re-trial, the Supreme Court ordered the government to release all nine political prisoners. The Supreme Court’s order also reinstated 12 members of parliament who lost their seats due to their defection to the opposition. The order also called on the Majlis (legislature), which was suspended in 2017, to hold its meeting. Under state coercion, both orders were annulled by the Supreme Court on 6 February 2018.